Anatomical evaluation of hepatic vascular system in healthy beagles using X-ray contrast computed tomography

Abstract

Liver contrast X-ray computed tomography (CT) has been used for evaluation of hepatic vessels for liver transplantation, liver lobectomy, interventional radiology and diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in humans. However, there remains scant available anatomical information on normal hepatic vessels in the veterinary field. In this study, visualization of hepatic vessels was evaluated in 32 normal beagle dogs by X-ray contrast CT using triple phase images. The following hepatic vessels were clearly visualized: arterial, portal and hepatic veins. With regards to the running patterns of the portal vein and hepatic vein, there were no significant differences between the dogs. However, the hepatic artery exhibited some differences in each dog. In particular, the hepatic artery of the quadrate lobe and the right lateral lobe had many running patterns. The results of the present study could be useful for veterinary diagnosis, surgery and interventional radiology.

Agenesis of hepatic lobes in a dog

“…Agenesis of hepatic lobe is a rare finding, and appears to be overlooked since the condition is asymptomatic. The present case demonstrates the importance of knowing the normal hepatic vascular anatomy (Oishi et al, 2015) and the use of CT as the main diagnostic tool for identifying agenesis of hepatic lobe in the dog.…”

Transcatheter arterial embolisation in four dogs with hepatocellular carcinoma

“…Although this finding cannot be adequately explained, it may be attributed to microthrombosis caused by catheterisation or the flow of embolic agents into the pancreatic artery because the gastroduodenal artery is near the targeted artery (Oishi et al . ).…”

Transcatheter arterial embolization in normal canine liver

“…Selective embolization of liver arteries is needed to avoid the lethal consequences associated with TAE of the common hepatic artery in dogs . The relative proximity of cystic and gastroduodenal arteries relative to each hepatic further justify selective embolization to avoid gallbladder infarction or other organ damage . Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been reported in dogs with hepatocellular adenoma, but the left hepatic artery could not be catheterized with a 5.0‐Fr catheter .…”

“…In the clinical setting, dogs with liver tumors may need TAE or TACE of the right lobe. However, individual variations in origins, courses, and ramification patterns of the right hepatic arteries among dogs prompted us to study the left lobes of the liver. In addition, only 3 biopsy samples were collected from each liver in this study.…”